The best Star Wars toys 2015

With the upcoming release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, there’s going to be a lot of toys out there related to the film. As many parents know, if you pick the wrong toy for your child then they’re not going to want to play with it and you’ve just wasted a lot of money. To that end, I’ve compiled a list of the best Star Wars toys that you can buy for your children.

I’ve included handy widgets for these items that will take you to their respective pages on Amazon. It doesn’t cost you any extra to click on these links, but it does earn me a small commission each time you buy from them which helps to support me write more content. If you don't like in the USA, then sadly you won't be able to use the included links unless you set up an Amazon.com account. However, if you live in the UK, you can search for the items below via this link, and if you live in Canada then you can search for them using this link.

This is actually one for parents and children alike since there’s a great chance that you’ll be showing your child the best way to play with it, presuming you’re a Star Wars fan of course. There are several variations of this, although the two best versions I’ve been able to find are the ‘classic’ and Lego versions. With regards to the classic version, this is smaller than the Lego equivalent and is a cross between a model and toy of the Millennium Falcon.

In terms of it being a model system, you assemble all of the parts yourself (they easily snap together), and after it’s been assembled you can’t undo it-unlike the Lego version. However, since it is a model, the detail in it is much more intricate than that of the Lego version. It also has various sounds that it plays, including the sound made when it jumps to Hyperspace. The engine bay also lights up blue at the back of the craft.

In comparison, the Lego version is much bigger and it also includes several Lego action figures that can fit perfectly inside the Falcon. Of course, since its Lego you’ll also get to build and rebuild the Falcon as many times as you like, which is great since you know it’s virtually indestructible. Even better, it has built in spring loaded turrets so you can recreate your favourite scenes and fire at enemy craft. Speaking of spring loaded turrets, Chewbacca’s bowcaster actually shoots Lego darts! This is something anyone be it young or old will enjoy. This makes a great Star Wars toy, and also one that's sure to keep its value.

BB-8 is the latest Droid in the Star Wars universe, that bears more than a slight resemblance to everyone’s favourite Astrodroid R2-D2. What makes this version of BB-8 stand out from the rest of the BB-8 toys currently on the market is the fact that you can control him through the use of a special app on your tablet or smartphone device. It offers a precise level of control using your smart device, but there’s also the option to let BB-8 roam around your place on its own to see what it gets up to.

One of the great things about this is that it’s actually voice sensitive, so it will react when you speak to it, and it’s something kids will love to play with. In terms of charging it, it has an internal battery (charges via usb), so you won’t have any worries about having to run out to the shops to get more batteries for it.

Sadly, real lightsabers still don’t exist. That doesn’t mean to say that you can’t get toy versions of them, though. Whilst there are extremely expensive variatons of them (the Force FX lineup), they’re not the kind of item you’d willingly want to give to children to play fight with. Instead, there are much cheaper, safer and durable options.

The ones included below all take batteries, and they are hardwearing and all make the authentic lightsaber noises you’ve come to know and love. Even better, the lightsaber that will be used by Kylo Ren with the wrist guard is also now available. The only tough choice is, whose lightsaber will you put into your basket?

Whilst it is still being debated if Darth Vader will be appearing in The Force Awakens, there’s no denying that he’s a key player in the Star Wars franchise. There are far too many Darth Vader figures to list, but the one I’ve included below is 20 inches tall and you’re able to move him into various different positions. The attention to detail on this figure is amazing, and it’s the perfect sweetspot between being a great ornament, but also a great size to play with if he’s going to be used as an action figure.

If you feel I've missed out any great Star Wars toys, let me know in the comments section below. Likewise, if you have a favourite Star Wars toy from your childhood, please feel free to share this information below with other people. It'll be a great way to get an interesting conversation going about the awesome lineup of Star Wars toys that have been around for decades.